Explore Payroll Specialist Jobs

Find Payroll Specialist opportunities that match your experience in payroll processing, compliance, reporting, and employee support. Ladders features vetted professional roles with compensation of $100,000 or more, including senior and leadership-level positions for payroll experts.

What Payroll Specialists Do

Payroll Specialists help ensure employees are paid accurately and on time. Their work may include managing payroll cycles, reviewing time and attendance data, maintaining employee records, resolving pay questions, and preparing payroll reports. Depending on the organization and role level, they may also oversee payroll systems, coordinate with HR and finance teams, and support audits.

Skills and Experience Employers Seek

Employers commonly look for strong attention to detail, discretion with sensitive information, and knowledge of payroll processes and applicable regulations. Experience with payroll platforms, HRIS tools, spreadsheet analysis, tax and benefits deductions, reconciliations, and multi-state or international payroll can be valuable. Senior roles may require team leadership, process improvement, and experience managing complex payroll operations.

Payroll Specialist Career Opportunities

Payroll career paths can lead to senior payroll specialist, payroll analyst, payroll manager, or payroll operations leadership roles. Opportunities vary by industry and organization size, with responsibilities shaped by workforce complexity, systems, and regulatory requirements. Browse current listings to find roles aligned with your background and career goals.

Find $100K+ Payroll Specialist Jobs on Ladders

Use Ladders to discover vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Review role requirements, compare positions, and identify openings that fit your payroll expertise and next career step.

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1
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$97K - $130K *

Elevate payroll processes by managing Workday configurations and driving improvements. Collaborate with HR and Accounting to enhance system functionality, ensuring accuracy and compliance while leadin...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$97K - $130K *

Unlock potential by managing and enhancing payroll systems in Workday. Drive process improvements, ensure compliance, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions that ele...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $180K *

Optimize Total Rewards and Payroll strategies, leading operational excellence and compliance across diverse functions. Collaborate with HR and business leaders to enhance programs that support growth...

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$150K - $160K *

Take ownership of payroll operations, ensuring compliance and efficiency in a dynamic environment. Collaborate cross-functionally to manage end-to-end payroll processes for U.S. employees, driving acc...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$80K - $95K *

Drive payroll excellence by leading a dynamic team, overseeing payroll and commission processes, and ensuring compliance in a multi-state environment while collaborating with cross-functional leaders...

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$100K - $125K *

Elevate employee experiences by leading payroll and benefits programs. Drive compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement while collaborating with senior leadership to enhance organi...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$83K *

Optimize payroll processes and ensure compliance while leading a team to achieve departmental goals. Oversee payroll accuracy, implement internal controls, and collaborate with stakeholders to enhance...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$73K - $105K *

Join a dynamic team to lead and scale Managed Payroll services, shaping operations and enhancing customer experience. Drive team development, streamline processes, and leverage technology to deliver e...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$89K - $121K *

Oversee payroll operations, ensuring tax compliance and accuracy while collaborating with finance and HR to enhance processes. Elevate financial reporting through detailed audits and reconciliations...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$80K - $95K *

Elevate payroll processes by ensuring accuracy and compliance in a dynamic educational institution. Collaborate with the Payroll Director and support payroll operations, timekeeping, and reporting for...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$88K - $105K *

Help us enhance our compensation programs by providing expert guidance and analysis. Collaborate with teams to align strategies, evaluate job structures, and implement best practices that support orga...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in ensuring payroll tax compliance across jurisdictions. Manage filings, reconcile data, and provide expert guidance while fostering strong relationships with clients and tax agencies...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$104K - $166K *

Unlock potential by managing the full life-cycle of multimedia data, ensuring submission accuracy and quality control while supporting national security efforts through effective data loading and moni...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Lead project scheduling efforts to enhance energy project execution. Manage baseline schedules, conduct analyses, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery and effective co...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$80K - $95K *

Optimize project controls by monitoring schedules, managing costs, and ensuring accurate reporting. Collaborate with teams to resolve issues and support financial projections, enhancing project effici...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$75K - $120K *

Join a team that's dedicated to ensuring accurate payroll processing and employee compensation. Support payroll operations by maintaining records, verifying timesheets, and collaborating with departme...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$118K - $148K *

Lead the charge in optimizing payroll and pension services, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and efficiency while fostering a high-performing team culture. Drive strategic initiatives for continuous imp...

Hamilton, ONIn-Person

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Lead the full payroll lifecycle across multiple locations, ensuring compliance and accuracy in payroll processing, reporting, and tax matters. Collaborate with various departments to enhance payroll o...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$105K - $115K *

Champion our US payroll operations and benefits programs for 500+ employees, ensuring compliance and accuracy while closely collaborating with Finance, People Ops, and partners to streamline processes...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $115K *

Develop and refine payroll operations for a growing workforce of over 500 employees. Ensure compliant and efficient processing while managing benefit administration and optimizing internal controls an...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$81K - $109K *

Transform payroll processes by analyzing and improving workforce management systems. Collaborate with teams to identify gaps and enhance operational efficiency while ensuring compliance and standardiz...

Calgary, ABIn-Person

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$80K - $90K *

Join our team to oversee payroll functions, ensuring accurate processing and compliance across multi-state operations while collaborating with various departments to enhance efficiency and customer se...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$130K - $160K *

Transform payroll and absence processes by leading configuration and compliance in Workday. Collaborate with teams to ensure accurate payroll management for US and global employees, overseeing impleme...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$130K - $155K *

Drive the implementation of Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence systems. Lead design, configuration, and compliance initiatives while collaborating across the company to ensure accuracy and ef...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$80K - $95K *

Lead and optimize payroll operations across multiple entities, ensuring compliance and accuracy in a unionized environment. Collaborate with HR and Finance to enhance payroll processes and reporting w...

Mississauga, ONIn-Person

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Payroll Specialist do?question toggle

    A Payroll Specialist helps process payroll accurately and on schedule, maintains payroll records, reviews time and pay data, addresses employee questions, and may prepare reports or support compliance and audits.

  • What qualifications are common for Payroll Specialist jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary, but employers often value payroll experience, careful handling of confidential data, familiarity with payroll or HRIS software, strong analytical skills, and knowledge of relevant payroll procedures and regulations.

  • What skills are important for a Payroll Specialist?question toggle

    Attention to detail, accuracy, discretion, organization, communication, and problem-solving are important. Experience with payroll systems, reconciliations, reporting, and complex or multi-state payroll may also be useful.

  • What career paths are available for Payroll Specialists?question toggle

    Payroll Specialists may advance into senior specialist, payroll analyst, payroll manager, or payroll operations leadership positions, depending on their experience and interests.

  • Are there Payroll Specialist jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Yes. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including senior payroll and payroll leadership opportunities. Availability and requirements vary by employer and location.